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Biology Courses

Program | Courses

All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

504 Plant Morphology

With lab. Origin, early evolution, classification of plant life. General introduction to plant kingdom, major features of plant morphology. Survey of major groups of fossil and living plants. Dissection of living plants. Study of microscope slides and plant fossils. Prerequisite: introductory course in biology. Credit, 4. Mr. Klekowski

510 Plant Physiology

Presentation of principles needed to appreciate the physiological mechanisms unique to plants. General areas include components and functions of cell structures and mechanisms of development. Examples from recent literature consider genetic engineering, sensory processes, and protection from biotic and abiotic stresses. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 100-101 or BIOLOGY 103.

511 Experimental Plant Physiology

With lab. Presentation of principles needed to appreciate the physiological mechanisms unique to plants. General areas include components and functions of cell structures and mechanisms of development. Examples from recent literature consider genetic engineering, sensory processes, and protection from biotic and abiotic stresses. Laboratory exercises provide a basis for designing and interpreting experiments. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 100-101 or BIOLOGY 103. Credit, 4.

521 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

With lab. Detailed approach to the structure and evolutionary relationships of vertebrates. Evolutionary and functional significance of structures in different groups. Lab involves evolutionary trends and specializations, experience in dissection. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 102, or BIOLOGY 100-101. Credit, 4. Ms. Coombs

522 Vertebrate Fossils and Evolution

Introduction to vertebrate history emphasizing fossil forms. Topics include: skeletal morphology and evolution, modes of life of extinct animals such as dinosaurs, faunal change over time, and relationships among the various groups of vertebrates. Lectures and lab at Amherst College Pratt Museum, with study of display and other fossil specimens. Prerequisite: introductory course in a biological science, geology, or physical anthropology. Credit, 4. Ms. Coombs

523 Histology

With lab. The relation of cell, tissue, and organ microscopic structure to function. Discussion of major tissue types: epithelia, nerve, muscle and connective tissue. Lab includes light microscopic identification of various tissues and organ systems (primarily mammalian) and related electron micrographs. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 102 or BIOLOGY 100-101. Ms. Connor, Ms. Wadsworth

524 Coastal Plant Ecology

Plants and processes that characterize the coastal zone (estuaries, salt marshes, maritime forests, grasslands, dune strand and beaches) including interaction of plants with geological factors. Human impact and planning also emphasized. Informal field trips to the coast. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 103 or 104 or 100, BIOLOGY 221, or 297B or 421 (oceanography recommended); or consent of instructor. Mr. Godfrey

526 Plant Geography

Principles of plant distribution, basic characteristics, and literature on vegetation of North America, with an overview of world vegetation. History of plant geography, mechanisms of plant dispersal, and development of plant communities in time and space. Emphasis on vegetation of New England. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 103 or 104 or BIOLOGY 100, and BIOLOGY 221, or 297B or 421, or consent of instructor. Mr. Godfrey

528 Principles of Evolution

Advanced course for students who have already taken an introductory course in evolution. Evolutionary mechanisms and evolutionary history, including evolutionary genetics, the role of chance in evolution, speciation and species concepts, the origin of life, the tempo of evolution, extinction, the evolution of behavior, evolutionary history of selected groups, research methods in evolution. Mr. Byers.

530 Biology of Invertebrates

With labs, field trips. Survey of biological relationships, structure, ecology, and distribution. Emphasis on aquatic (freshwater) and terrestrial non-insect groups. Use of keys for identification. Mandatory collection. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 101, 102 or equivalent. Credit, 4.

537 Ecology

With lab, field trips. A broad survey of modern ecology from the evolution of the biosphere and the principles of ecosystems (including energy-flow and nutrient cycles) through features of terrestrial and aquatic habitats to the ecology of populations and population interactions (especially competition and predation) and patterns of biotic communities. Prerequisite: a life science course beyond the introductory level.

540 Herpetology

Synopsis of the anatomy, evolution, systematics, and behavior of major living lineages of amphibians and reptiles; special attention to the New England herpeto-fauna. Lab: diversity, morphology and behavior; some dissecting required. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 521 or consent of instructor. Credit 4. Mr. Richmond

542 Ichthyology

With lab. The biology and evolution of fishes with a focus on the structure and function of major living groups. Topics include an overview of evolution, systematics, and biogeography of recent and fossil fishes, functional anatomy of feeding and locomotory systems, reproduction and reproductive behavior, physiological adaptations to aquatic habits, etc. Lab: anatomy, diversity, systematics and functional morphology of major lineages. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 521 or consent of instructor. Credit, 4.

544 Ornithology

With lab. Avian systematics, phylogeny, behavior, ecology, etc. Lab includes bird identification, anatomy, censusing, field studies. Prerequisite: upper-level biology course or consent of instructor. Credit, 4. Mr. Byers

548 Mammalogy

With lab. Lectures and readings on comparative biology and evolutionary relationships of mammalian groups. Lab involves detailed introduction to the New England mammalian fauna and study of selected representatives of other groups, emphasizing adaptation. Prerequisite: any life science course beyond the introductory level. Credit, 4. Ms. Dumont

550 Animal Behavior

For majors in biology, psychology, animal science, wildlife, fisheries, and related fields. Survey of recent developments emphasizing current research and its interpretations. Review of "classical" ethological approach. More recent developmental, physiological, ecological, and evolutionary approaches. Topics include behavior genetics, imprinting, migration and orientation, predatory-prey interactions, communication, and social behavior. Recent experimental and theoretical developments in sociobiology. Implications of these with respect to the analysis and interpretation of human behavior. Prerequisite: any introductory biology or psychology course, or consent of instructor. Mr. Podos, Ms. Novak

559/560 Cell and Molecular Biology II

Selected aspects of cellular structure and function including regulation of the cell cycle, chromosome structure, and experimental methods. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 285 or equivalent. Credit, 3 (559, lecture only). Credit, 4 (560, with lab). Ms. Wadsworth.

564/565 Human Physiology

With lab. Mechanisms underlying organ system function in vertebrates; nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, digestive, excretory, reproductive systems. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 285 or consent of instructor. Credit 3 (564). Credit 4, (565), with lab.

566/567 Comparative Physiology

With lab. Physiological principles involved in adaptations of animals to their environments. Credit, 3 (566).Credit, 4 (567, with lab).

568/569 Experimental Endocrinology

With optional lab. The role of hormones in the growth, metabolism, and reproduction of mammals. Molecular mechanisms of hormone action, environmental and feedback control of secretion. Current issues in endocrine physiology. Prerequisite: physiology (e.g., BIOLOGY 297A or 564/5), or consent of instructor. Credit, 3 (568).Credit, 4 (569, with lab). Mr. Zoeller

571 Biological Rhythms

The formal, molecular, genetic, cell biological, and physiological analysis of endogenous oscillations in plants and animals, including their entrainment by light and use in photoperiodism and navigation. Circadian, cicatidal, and circannual rhythms emphasized. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 285 or equivalent. Mr. Bittman

572 Neurobiology

Biology of nerve cells and cellular interactions in nervous systems. Structural, functional, developmental, and biochemical approaches. Topics include neuronal anatomy and physiology, membrane potentials, synapses, development of neuronal connections, visual system, control of movement, and neural plasticity. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 285 or equivalent; or BIOLOGY 100 or 102 and PSYCH 330; or consent of instructor. Mr. Wyse

574 Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton

The molecular and cellular basis for motion of whole cells and cell organelles. Topics include muscle motility, ciliary motion, amoeboid movement, cytoplasmic streaming, nuclear migration, mitosis, and membrane-cytoskeletal interactions. The assembly and regulation of mic-rofilaments and microtubules examined. Prior completion of biochemistry recommended.

580 Developmental Biology

Physiological and biochemical aspects of development. Labs include discussions, demonstrations, computer modeling and experimental work. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 560 or equivalent. Mr. Kunkel, Mr. Nambu, Mr. J. Karlstrom

581 Angiosperm Systematics

With lab. History of angiosperm systematics, basic principles of evolutionary biology and phylogenetics, major systems of angiosperm classification, instructor's system. Survey of angiosperms and their economic botany on a world scale. Cred-it, 4. Mr. J. Walker

597 Special Topics

Advanced Physiology (2nd sem)

Hormone actions in males and females from birth through old age. Steroid and thyroid hormone biochemistry, and molecular mechanisms of action. Endocrinology in the news. Current issues in endocrinology, including environmental contaminants that act as endocrine disrupters; physiological basis of sexual differences in heart disease and Alzheimer's disease; mechanism by which estrogen prevents osteoporosis, and antiestrogen administration to prevent breast cancer. Ms. Petersen

Biometry

Lecture, lab. Methods in data capture and analysis with emphasis on biological problems. The "R" computing environment used with traditional and novel approaches, including time series, morphometrics, sequence data, and experimental design. Prerequisite: MATH 127, 128, or equivalent. Mr. Kunkel.

Information Technology in Biology Education (1st sem)

Examines three topics in the specific context of biology education: 1) what principles underlie how people learn; 2) how these principles of learning can guide technology implementation; and 3) what the real-world practicalities are of using these technologies for teaching. Student projects include evaluating a technology product being used for biology education and developing a lesson for students that employs information technology to teach biology. Mr. Brewer

Genomics and Bioinformatics

Lecture and computer exercises. Discussions of experimental techniques in genomics and theoretical and analytical approaches for handling genetic data, based on recent papers. Computer labs during normally scheduled course time use many of the current databases and computational tools of actual bioinformatics studies. Basic understanding of college-level algebra and Macintosh operating system required. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 283 or equivalent course.

Plant Evolution (2nd sem)

Basic concepts and theories in micro- and macro-evolution of plants. Brief review of diversity of photosynthetic organisms and the methodologies employed to investigate plant evolution. All recent developments in evolutionary genomics, evolutionary developmental biology, and evolutionary ecology of plants. Prerequisites: BIOLOGY 100, 101, 280 and 283.

Plant Genomes and Genetic Systems

Emphasis on model genetic systems, Arabidopsis and maize. Genomics, gene and sequence databases, plant genome structure, transposable elements, mapping using molecular markers, strategies for gene cloning, quantitative trait loci, and epigenetic control of gene expression. Open to any student with the necessary background in genetics and molecular biology. Ms. E. Walker

Vegetation of North America

Afternoon lectures, discussions, and short field trips on campus. An upper-level course for undergraduates and graduate students in Biology (Ecology), Conservation Biology, Forestry and Wildlife, Landscape Architecture, and Natural Resource Studies covering the major plant communities (formations and associations) of North America. Introduction to the species composition and distribution of vegetation through readings, slides, species lists, and living and pressed specimens. A brief overview of the principles and history of vegetation science. Students are expected to have some background in plant ecology and familiarity with the geography of North America.

621 Topics in Plant Ecology: The Biological Basis of Wildlands Policy (alt 2nd sem)

The ecological and social consequences of the disappearance of wildlands. How to judge whether conservation policies are biologically sound, how to design ecological research to improve them. Focus on current research and controversy. Participants present seminars and collaborate on a joint review paper. Consent of instructor required. Mr. Alpert

641 Advanced Cellular Biology (Cross-listed with MCB 641)

Structure and function of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Properties of membranes and cellular transport systems, energy transduction, assembly and morphogenesis of organelles, organization of nucle-us and cytoskeleton. Experimental approaches emphasized. Credit, 4.

696 Special Problems

Directed research project on some problem in biology. Credit, 1-6.

698A Practicum

Credit, 1-12.

699 Master's Thesis

Credit, 10.

722 Vertebrate Paleontology

A rigorous analysis of the vertebrate fossil record. Topics include: vertebrate systematics, morphological trends, transitions, functional anatomy, and faunal evolution. Additional 1-credit lab available. Offered alternate years. Four class hours. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 521 or 522 or equivalent. Credit, 4. Ms. Coombs

750 Advanced Animal Behavior

Topics from active areas of current research (e.g., communication, development, behavioral ecology, sociobiology); emphasis on critical analyses of theory and methodology. Prerequisite: BIOLOGY 550, or consent of instructor.

755 Systematics and EvolutionaryMechanisms

An in-depth examination of systematics practices and phylogenetic methods used for reconstructing evolutionary history. Methods for building and analyzing character data matrices (i.e., matrices of morphological and molecular character data) emphasized. Extensive in-class work and assignments using software such as PAUP and MacClade and websites such as NCBI (GenBank) and TreeBASE.

789 Writing for the Life Sciences

Principles and techniques of producing written papers (abstracts, figures, tables, etc.) and oral presentations (slides, delivery, etc.); curriculum vitae; job interviews; professional ethics. Prequisite: consent of instructor. Credit, 1-3.

791D Vertebrate Paleontology Lab

Hands-on study of fossil and modern vertebrate skeletal material using museum collections at the University and Amherst College. One 3-hour lab per week and some independent study. Prerequisite: current (or previous) registration in BIOLOGY 722. Credit, 1. Ms. Coombs

796 Special Problems

Directed research project on some problem in biology. Credit, 1-6.

896 Special Problems